Wheel raising and lowering mechanism for gun carriages



July 19, 1949. v R,v w, ALLEN 2,476,825

\ WHEEL RAISING AND LowERING MECHANISM FOR GUN CARRIAGES 5 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed June 25, 1942 Y OMM/www4) July 19, 1949. R. ALLEN 2,476,825

WHEEL RAISING LOWERING MECHANISM FOR GUN CARRIAGES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 25, 1942 www `Iuly 19, 1949. R. W. ALLEN WHEEL RAISING AND LOWERING MECHANISM FOR GUN CARRIAGES Original Filed June 25, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 dimm Wilp July 19, 1949. R. w. ALLEN lWHEEL. RAISING AND LOWERING MECHANISM FOR GUN CARRIAGES Original Filed June 25, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FayMM// W, ALLe/V July 19, 1949. R. w. ALLEN WHEEL RAISING AND LOWEHING MECHANISM FOR GUN CARRIAGES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed June 25, 1942 glu/umm Patented July 19, .1949

WHEEL RAISING AND LOWERING MECHA- NISM FOR GUN CARRIAGES Raymond. W. Allen, Akron, Ohio, assigner to The Firestone` Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application June 25, 1942, Serial No.

448,472, now Patent No. 2,415,024, dated January 28, 1947.

Divided and this application June 20, 1946, Serial No. 678,106

-2 Claims.. (Cl. 280-44) This invention relates to improvements in gun carriages. The term gun carriage or gun mount as herein employed include a wheeled frame or chassis, together with gun mounting means supported thereby and control mechanism for movement of the gun through both horizonltal and vertical planes for the sighting thereof.

The present invention pertains to improvements in gun carriages of the general type dis closed in U. S. Patent No. 2,103,670 to Victor Hammer et al., and commonly termed the Bofors gun carriage and more particularly to the chassis of such carriage.

In the drawings.:

Fig. l is a plan view of the chassis of a gun carriage embodying the present invention the gun and its operating mechanism not shown.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the chassis shownin Fig. 1 with the carriage frame resting on the ground in gun firing or wheel retractedy position and showing an anti-aircraft gun mounted thereon.

Fig. 3 shows the carriage of Fig. 2 in front elevation with the wheels in lowered or traveling position.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the main carriage frame showing the wheel raising and lowering mechanism in detail.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the front yoke locking mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal fragmentary section through the front axle and wheel suspension mechanism.

Fig. 'l is a plan view of the gun stay, onelocking. pin being shown in section.

Fig. 8 is taken along line 8--8, Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan View of an Outrigger locking device and pivot pin.

Fig. 10 shows the device of Fig. 9y in longitudinal section.

As shown in the drawings the chassis l5 comprises a horizontal frame member 20, substantially rectangular in cross section, and having at the ends thereof right angularly disposed axle assemblies 2| and 22 for the mounting. of the carriage on wheels 23' which may be provided with conventional tire casings having bullet sealing tubes therein, or with combat type tires and rim. Member 2E is provided at a point intermediate the axle assemblies with a transverse arm 26- to which is pivoted, at the ends thereof, a pair of outriggers 21 and 28. The outriggers are adapted to be swung from a fold-back position as` shown in Fig. 1 to an extended position aligned with arm 26 as shown in Fig. 2. Each Outrigger is provided 55 at the outer end thereof with a screw jack 29 hav ing a ground engaging foot plate 30 swivel-con* nected -to the lower end of a post 3 i, the post beingY manually adjustable. by cranks 32, pivoted at 33, to allow folding into the position shown during non-use. The upper end of jack 29 is provided with six circumferential slots 23a. equally spaced to permit locking of the jack screw at intervals of Suitable means, later described', are provided for locking the outriggers in either a foldbaci: position for travel or in a laterally extended position for ground engagement of foot plates 30 during operation of a. gun mounted on the carriage. Y

As shown in Fig. l, outriggers 21, 28 have their pivoted ends protected by covers 21a, 28a during travel., the covers being removably attached to permit` removaly prior to positioning of the out riggers-in firing position. Eachl Outrigger', 21 for example, is pivotedto transverse arm 26 as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. A pintle 21.0, carrying sleeve 21d is journaled in arm 26'by bushings 21e. Sleeves 21d are adapted to rotate with pintle 21C by reasonof their engagement. with splines 21j of pintle 21o'. The outer ends of sleevesv 21dhave integral radial flanges 21h., eccentric in: respect to pintle 21o to provide cam. means, rotatable with the pintle, for the shifting of Outrigger 21 in respect to member 26, thevoutrigger carrying bushings 21g engaging the cam flanges 21h. The upper end of pintle 21e carries a lever arm 21k, having a pivoted handle extension 21?' for manipulation ofthe pintle andits associated cam mechanism.

Outrigger arm 21 is provided at its pivoted end with atapered arm engaging portion 21m, arm 2li:y being adapted to receive said portion in locked engagement therewith When in the dotted line po sition shown in Fig. l, lever 21k-being rotated to longitudinally move the arm and Outrigger into engagement by means of the above. described cam action. Upon release. of the lock mechanism and return ot the Outrigger to the traveling position, lever 2.1i@ is again rotated to longitudinally move Outrigger 21 to effect locking engagement between bracket 21p,- carried aty the outer end of the outrigger, and hook 2111., mounted` on chassis member 20 to extend laterally therefrom.

Axle assemblies 2l and 22 are substantially identical, each comprising a rigid. shaft,` 34 and. 35, respectively, Figs. l, 4 andl 6, said shafts extending through the main frame member 20 and suitably journaled thereto at 36 to permit rotation about the shaft axes. Assemblies 2l and 22 respectively are provided with. yokes 38 and. 39, laterdescrio'edY to permit rotationv of the assemblies from a lowered to a raised wheel position as shown in heavy and dotted line positions, Fig. 4, the yokes being lockable in the positions shown with yoke 38 providing .connecting means for a draughtbar'whe yoke v'39 provides a gunv stay during travel. Wheel mounting spindle assemblies are linked -to the axle ends in offset out,-V

wardly extending relation thereto by means of` frame member 20 in a position forV engagement paired shackles or link connectors 40 and 4|, the

shackle ends being suitably pivoted to crossheads 42 at the axle termini and to housings 43 carrying v wheel spindles 44 respectively. To permit steeringv u of the front wheels the spindle assembly of the front axle assembly 2| comprises the link-en gaged housing 43 in which is journaled a shaft 46 normally carrying a wheel mounting spindle r41 at the lower end thereof.

with pawls 1 2, whereby to provide means for locking each axle in a desired wheel position. Pawls 12 may be actuated in and out of locking engagement with the quadrant through pivot lever 13 carrying an eccentric pin 14, to move the pawl lfagainst the urgeof a spring to release it from the segment. During travel, the stresses tending to rotate the front axle assembly 2| are not ordinarily transmitted to the pawl and quadrant 10 by reason of yoke 38 being securely clamped Shaft 46 has a splined upper end portion to' which a steering lever 48 is secured by clamping* bolt 49. The upper axle bracket pivot pin 54 has splined thereto a lever 55 extending into tubular axle 34 to operate as a bell crank pivotable with shackle 40. A spring compression rod 56 has one end pivotally engaged with lever 55, the opposite end loosely carrying a washer 51 against which a helical spring 58 abuts, opposite end of the spring abutting an annular shoulder 59. The spring is normally maintained under compression and is responsive to wheel movement through a vertical plane whereby to provide shock absorption means between the wheel and the frame to which axle 34 attaches.

Yoke 38 engaging front axle shaft 34, is adapted to be clamped in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4to secure the wheels in a lowered position for travel, the yoke being swung inwardly to raise i the wheels and allow base plates 3l) to contact` the ground for the rigid positioning of the base frame for gun ring. The yoke also serves, as above stated, as connecting means for a draught bar 62 which is connected thereto through an intervening double clevis link 63. The'latterprovides a connection for a pair of tie rods 64 having the adjacent ends pivoted thereto by means Yof .universal joints 64a, and having their remote ends pivotally connected to steering levers 48 byv The joints 64a have vertical universal joints 65. pivots 64b engaging the link 63 and horizontal pivots 64C engaging the Ytie rods 64. Joints 65 pivot about vertical lever pins 65a and horizontal tie rod pins 65h. The arrangement enables steering of the front wheels in response to movement of the draught bar 62. Y

The rear axle yoke 39, best shown in Figs. 7 and 8, comprises paired rods 39a, 39h, converging from the axle to provide a lever swingable outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1 to raise the rear wheels when the carriage is lowered to operative position, the outer end of the yoke being provided with set screws 66 for engagement with bores, not shown, provided in the gun breech, whereby the yoke provides a gun stay to position the gun when the gun carriage is in a traveling or wheel lowered position. Double wing nuts 68 are provided to prevent loosening of screws 66. Rods 39a, 39h have welded therebetween a connector rod 39o and a sheet metal web 39d. Web 39d is generally X-shape in plan, and is reinforced by interconnected ribs 39j, 39g formed by stamping. Provision of web 39d in effect provides i diagonal bracing of the web side members 39a, 39h

at av substantially reduced manufacturing cost. The yoke members are joined in unitary assembly by arc welding the joined portions. Axle engaging ends 39h, 39j, are provided with locking screws directly to the front end of member 20 to prevent axle rotation respecting the frame when the device is set up for traveling, as best shown in Fig. 4. When the wheels are in raised position, the pawl and quadrant provide locking means to maintain the Wheels above the ground.

Yoke'38, generally V-shaped, is provided at its outer end with a bifurcated portion 16 through which a link-connectingV pivot pin 11 extends, Figs. 4 and 5, said pin engaging one end of the double clevis link 63 to permit pivoting of the link through a horizontal plane when theV yoke is clamped to the main frame as shown in Fig. 4. The link 63 may be secured in ixed position with relation to yoke-end 16 by means of a locking pin 18 insertable through aligned apertures in the link and yoke-end. Pin 11 has an Yextension rod 19 Vpivoted to its lower end at 8U to permit rod 19 to be swung intoand out of engagement with a vertically slotted member 8| welded to the front end of frame member 20. A pair of wing nuts 82 threadedly engage rod 19 to provide clamp means for locking the front end of yoke 38 to the frame as shown in Fig. 4.

To counter-balance the weight of the carriage and its gun during the raising and lowering operations, suitable energy storing units 83 and 84 are provided. These units are disposed within the main frame member 20 for association with the wheels through the axles 34 and 35 in a manner to offset the effect of gravity during pivotal movement of the wheels from a lowered toV a raised position or vice versa. The front wheel energy storing unit 83 comprises a spring compressionV rod 86 pivotally connected to axle mounted segment 19 at 81, rod 86 extending through a helical spring 88 maintained within housing 89 between a cylinder 98 within the housing and a spring engaging cap 9| carried by the compression rod 86 at the outer end thereof. Rotation of axle 34 and segment 19 causes rod 86 to be drawn toward the axle assembly with resultant compression of spring 88. The weight of the carriage and the gun aids in the compression of the spring until the front end of the carriage rests upon the ground engaging feet 38. Conversely, when the axle assembly is rotated in the opposite direction to lower the wheels, the stored energy of spring 88 operates counter to the Yweight of the carriage and gun to aid in swinging the carriage into a traveling position.

Energy storing unit 84 associated with the rear axle, works on the sarme principle, spring 93 working `counter to gravity. The spring is suitably housed and is connected to the rear axle segment 18 through pivoted lever 94 Vand ,chain 95, a

sprocketv 96 being provided to insure straight line pull on the spring compression rod 91.

Operation of the device is as follows: The carriage is made ready for conversion irom a raised or traveling position to a lowered or firing position by first swinging Outrigger arms 2l' and ril from the folded position sho-wn in heavy lines, Fig. 1, to the outwardly extending dotted line position shown therein in heavy lines, Fig. 2, the outriggers 'being locked in that position. The yokes 33 and 39 are then unlocked from the chassis and gun breech respectively 'in the manner above taught and individually or simultaneously swung in the direction to lower the `carriage frame onto the ground, each axle assembly 2l and 22 being then locked by its associated quadrant pav/l device.

Ground stakes or pickets 332 are removed from their carrying brackets 333, Fig. 1, and lowered through guide brackets 334, on the main frame and outriggers, to be driven into the ground. The chassis is then levelled by manipulation of jacks 29, spirit levels 323 .being provided near the outrigger ends for this purpose, as shown in Fig. 2. Level 329 is `provided at the rear end of the carriage chassis, the chassis 'being levelled from the iront end.

'Ihe carriage is preferably provided with four wheel electrically operable brakes 340.

This application is a division of application No. 443,472, filed June 25, 1942, now Patent No. 2,415,- O24, dated January 28, 1947.

What is claimed is:

1. In a gun carriage, the combination with a frame member, an axle in journaled right angular relation to said member and extending therethrough, shackles pivoted to the ends of said axle, wheels carried by Said shackles in eccentric relation fto the axle, a toothed quadrant carried by the axle, a manually operable quadrant engaging pawl mounted on the frame member for locking the axle against rotation in respect to the frame, a yoke having arms engaging said axle at each side of the frame member, said arms diverging axially of the frame member in general V-shape, and releasable clamp means between the yoke and 4trarne member to provide auxiliary means for constraining the axle against rotation in respect to the frame member.

2. In a gun carriage, the combination with a frame, an axle journaled therein, a pair of wheels connected to the axle in offset relation thereto, a yoke extending from the axle to provide means for the manual rotation of the axle to raise and lower the wheels in respect to the frame, a bolt extending through said yoke at a point spaced from the axle, an extension rod pivoted to said bolt, said frame being provided with a slot into which said extension rod pivots when the yoke is swung into a Wheel lowered position, and clamp means carried by said rod for engagement of said :frame adjacent said slot whereby to lock said yoke in a wheel lowered position.

RAYMOND W. ALLEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,731,149 Raiilenbeul Oct. 8, 1929 1,743,119 Cowell Jan. 14, 1930 1,830,048 Barnard Nov. 3, 1931 1,884,323 Snow Oct. 25, 1932 1,930,619 Jonkhoi Oct. 17, 1933 1,995,375 Carter Mar. 26, 1935 2,415,024 Allen Jan. 28, 1947 

